Is it just me or is “medieval fantasy dripping in super powers” a major trend in YA fantasy right now? I swear almost every book I pick up seems to fall into this category. Or maybe it’s always been there and I can’t lay off like a bath needs a bomb. Either way, I credit Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard for making it hot and Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo for making it even hotter. Both series are ridiculously good. If you just finished King’s Cage and don’t know what to read next, I’ve got you covered. Here are some of my other fave series in the YA super-powered, medieval fantasy category. (Man that’s a mouthful.)
Dividing Eden by Joelle Charbonneau
This is probably my favorite series on this list. After the king and crown prince of Eden return from the war dead, two royal twins must compete for the throne to stave off the governing council who wants a new ruling family. Carys, the loyal sister, only wants to protect her brother and discover who murdered her brother and father. Dreus wants to be the ideal king but has health issues and a dark prophecy clouding his ability to rule. Together the twins plan for Dreus to win, but as the competition heats up, so does the deception and scheming, leaving both wondering whom they can trust.
Dividing Eden satiates with mystery, action, budding super powers and creepy beast creatures lurking in the mountains. The end dropped my jaw and now I’m aching for the next book. Dividing Eden just came out in June and it’s the first in the series.
(Joelle Charbonneau also wrote The Testing series, which is an epic dystopia if you’re in the mood.)
Ruined by Amy Tintera
After watching her parents murdered and her sister kidnapped, Emelina is set on revenge and finding her sister in Lera, the enemy kingdom. She murders and impersonates the princess set to marry Lera’s crown prince, Casimir, hoping it will lead to finding her sister. She fools them at first but the longer she’s in Lera, the more difficult it becomes to hide her true identity and fight her growing feelings for Casimir.
This series is completely entertaining and I love the interaction between Casimir and Em. You feel for her and root for them in every chapter. Em’s sister, Olivia, has mad powers and is straight crazy, which makes for an epic ending. The second book, Avenged just came out and it’s fast, furious, and satisfyingly good. You’ll thank me for this one.
Defy by Sara B. Larson
Disguised as a guy, Alexa joins the military to avoid being put in a breeding house. After three years of hard work, she’s proven worthy to be part of the prince’s guard. But when a sorcerer kidnaps her, another guard, and the prince, and takes them into the enemy’s jungle kingdom, Alexa’s secret becomes difficult to hide. Although, she isn’t the only one hiding secrets.
All three books are out in this series, and my daughters and I demolished them. The first book starts a bit slow but picks up with romance and action. Overall, it’s a great adventure with a strong heroine, hot guys, and entertaining fight scenes. You’re not going to be a better person having read this fantasy series, but you’ll be fully entertained. If you need a filler fantasy series, this is it.
Ever the Hunted by Erin Summerill
Britta assists her father, a famed bounty hunter, in tracking down criminals in a kingdom where special powers are taboo—so taboo, her mother was banished for having powers. Living with her mother’s stigma, Britta only has her father and one friend, her father’s apprentice. But after the murder of her father, she’s determined to find his killer.
Another fast fantasy read, this book has spies, adventure, a hot young king and a huge cliffhanger ending. I just finished the second book, Ever the Brave, in the duology that comes out this fall. Get excited, it’s as great as the first.
The Young Elites by Marie Lu
After surviving a blood fever as a child, Adelina bears the scars of the plague—silver hair and budding super powers. Enzo is the leader of The Dagger Society, a group committed to saving other fever survivors who possess powers from the king and his gestapo, The Inquisition Axis. When Enzo finds Adelina, he persuades her to join The Dagger Society and save others. But the scars of her past run deep and dark, and trusting Enzo may be more than she can do.
What I love about this book is it’s a villain origin story. So it definitely gets dark and weird in all the best ways. Way to flip the story on its head Marie Lu. All three books are out in this series.
